"Babar's captaincy is at stake" - Aakash Chopra on Babar Azam's indifferent performances heading into World Cup 2023 clash vs India

Aakash Chopra reckons Babar Azam's captaincy might be at stake if he doesn't deliver the goods in Pakistan's World Cup 2023 clash against India.

The subcontinental arch-rivals will lock horns at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14. Babar will want to become the first Pakistan skipper to win an ODI World Cup match against the Men in Blue.

While previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Babar needs to score runs to retain his captaincy. He said:

"I feel Babar's captaincy is at stake if it doesn't happen here because scoring runs is necessary and you haven't scored runs. The neighbors keep saying King Babar but the king is one who has that status."

The former India opener pointed out that the Pakistan captain can only be considered a great player if he scores runs against India on a big stage. He elaborated:

"You get that status only when you score runs in a big match against a big team. In India, if you don't score runs against Pakistan, Australia or England, we don't consider him a player at all. The same goes for Babar Azam. He needs to score runs against this team."

Babar has managed a paltry 15 runs in his two innings in the ongoing World Cup. The stylish batter has aggregated 168 runs at an underwhelming average of 28.00 in six ODI innings against India and has never scored a fifty against them.

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"His captaincy has looked extremely ordinary" - Aakash Chopra on Babar Azam

Babar Azam has found it difficult to manage his resources effectively at times. [P/C: AP]

Aakash Chopra highlighted that Babar Azam's captaincy has also been found wanting quite often. He observed:

"Honestly speaking, if I do man-to-man marking, his captaincy has looked extremely ordinary in this entire tournament and before that as well. He looks slightly clueless quite a few times about who to bowl, when and how much. It was the same story in the Asia Cup as well. So I feel he will be under tremendous pressure."

The cricketer-turned-commentator also suggested game plans the Indian team could follow against some of the other Pakistan batters. He explained:

"If Fakhar Zaman comes, you can bring spin against him slightly early because he gets stuck a little against spin. As I said, bowl bouncers to Mohammad Rizwan. Go for pace for Iftikhar Ahmed also and that is why I am saying you can play three fast bowlers."

Chopra added that Haris Rauf needs to be back at his best in the Pakistan bowling department, considering Shaheen Shah Afridi is struggling slightly because of a swollen finger. He concluded by opining that India would emerge triumphant if they played a bit cautiously against Hasan Ali with the new ball.